Share This Story!

Jimmy Haslam's Pilot Flying J agrees to pay $92 million fine

Pilot Flying J, whose chairman and CEO is Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, has agreed to pay a $92 million fine as punishment for the company's role in a scheme to withhold rebates from some of its

Pilot Flying J, whose chairman and CEO is Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam, has agreed to pay a $92 million fine as punishment for the company's role in a scheme to withhold rebates from some of its customers.

The Knoxville-based company announced Monday that it had reached a formal agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice that would appear to head off criminal prosecution of the corporation.

According to federal prosecutors, Pilot Flying J acknowledged it had defrauded customers of more than $56 million and that its employees had fabricated documentation. The company will pay the fine over a period of two years.

"The terms of this agreement, including the significant monetary penalty and the very serious consequences if Pilot fails to comply, demonstrate quite clearly that no corporation, no matter how big, influential, or wealthy, is above the law," U.S. Attorney Bill Killian said in a press release announcing the agreement.

The deal does not affect civil suits against Pilot from customers who claim the company withheld rebates they were owed. It also does not end the criminal investigation into individuals within the company.

"The company has cooperated fully with the government and will continue to do so," said Aubrey Harwell, its attorney.